The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce’s Hampton Roads Business Political Action Committee (HRBizPAC) uses VA FREE data to make endorsements on incumbent legislators.

Coupled with feedback from our staff team of lobbyists, and other regional input, the PAC strives to evaluate our Hampton Roads delegation and endorse those elected officials who are most consistent in making legislative decisions in concert with the interests of the business community.

VA FREE data is well defined and reflects the consensus of the business community across the Commonwealth. Ira Agricola, Executive Vice President of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, has been a member of the VA FREE evaluations committee for more than a decade.  Invited by the organization each year to participate based on his extensive legislative lobbying experience, he notes the association does much for the Chamber and Hampton Roads region.

“Much of what ultimately gets reported to the business community is work performed by the evaluation committee,” says Agricola. “The Chamber gets a chance to assess if elected officials upheld pro-business interests.  Moreover, the Chamber’s sphere of influence is enhanced by being a part of the VA FREE evaluations process.”

One of the key components of VA FREE evaluations is the inclusion of committee votes. Often times the more difficult votes from a policy perspective in the legislative session occur in subcommittees and committees.

2015 Virginia Senate Evaluations/Rankings

2015 Virginia House of Delegates Evaluations/Rankings